1. Rex Grossman: He'll be crushed for this as the literal and symbolic reasons the Bears lost, but can you really begrudge the Sex Cannon? He is what he is. (Or, more precisely, as Commenter "Mike" put it: "He is who we thought he was.")

2. Weathermen: Someone needs to take the blame for that worst-ever game weather.

4. CareerBuilder.com: Never should have dropped the monkeys. Monkeys in Super Bowl ads this year -- a down year -- would have won the Ad Challenge.

5. Super Bowl ZZZZ? Both the early reviews and morning-after commentary seems to be shifting that the game was pretty flat... even boring. Not for Colts fans, but the rest of us.

What Next? When a team wins a Super Bowl, the other NFL teams usually fast-follow their blueprint. While it's hard to replicate having your own Peyton Manning, I think more teams will employ the 2-RB system, which was the biggest reason the Colts' offense had any success.

USA Today AdMeter: Did the Bud "Crab" ad really win the top honor? USA Today's system is broken – either that or their research sample sucks. There's no way that was the best ad. Bud Light had at least a handful that were better – along with the user-created Doritos ads. (And one more time: CareerBuilder missed its monkeys.) Which were your favorite ads?

College Hoops Parity Watch: Duke loses at home to FloridaState: This ain't your regular Duke team. No, they're not NEARLY as good. FSU wins for the first time ever at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Signature "Parity Watch" win this season?

NBA:Pistons beat Cavs in Cleveland. Detroit is the only East team with a winning record on the road. Does that give them the edge as the team to beat in the playoffs? Meanwhile, the Raptors are this year's Clippers -- and symbolically, the Raps beat the Clips yesterday.

NFL Coaching Search: Will the Cowboys make a play for Bears assistant Ron Rivera today? How "up" could he possibly be for that interview after losing last night? (First question: "Uh, our defense isn't as good as Chicago's. How can WE win the Super Bowl?")

The Monday after the Super Bowl is always Super Bowl, Super Bowl, Super Bowl. But the flip side is that starting tomorrow, we flip into an entire new season of the sports year. Coming later this week on this blog: NBA Midseason Awards, College Football National Signing Day, my first official College Hoops Top 10 of the season and more.

126 comments:

Companies just don't step up to the plate for commercials like they used to. Was Bud Light the only beer with commercials? Gah, its just pathetic! I remember when commercials were never repeated. Lame.

I loved the fact that this game was played in a storm. That's football! If you play in all conditions all season long, the Super Bowl should be no different. Though I'm sure a snowy super bowl will never happen.

Grats to the Colts.

Is Adam V. a lock for the HOF with his 4 rings? He wasn't exactly an innocent bystander in any of them. He should send Belichick a picture of his latest ring.

Oh, my favorite super bowl ad was the first Doritos where the guy and girl lived the flavors. That was a clever one.

My favorite overall ad (and I really just don't remember if I saw it during the Super Bowl or on TBS) was the Axe commercial with the kissers rolling down the hill. And yes, I admit this was because when the third girl was included in the roll, it was the two hot chicks making out.

For the first time in my 37 years, I watched this year's Super Bowl soley for the ads. What a huge disappointment. Too much sadism. Too little wit.

The first Doritos ad and the suicidal car-making robot were the only ads that worked for me on any level beyond gape-mouthed incredulity that anyone could think the concept or execution were good ideas and borderline revulsion.

By the way, I know it's golf in February, so it doesn't warrant "front page" status, but the two tournaments this weekend - Tiger "losing" by coming in third, but not losing his shot at the PGA streak (which is a complete farce), and Jeff Quinney shoking away the FBR Open by finishing Par, Bogey, Bogey... Yeah, who am I kidding. No one watches golf anymore.

I dont think we will ever be rid of the Peyton Manning Face. He was showing it all throughout the game even as they were winning. I just dont know how fired up that gets his teammates. The win does cement Peyton's place in history, but I dont think he will ever be seen as a great leader.

The halftime show was good, but not as good as U2 several years ago.

The ads were not that memorable, with some downright stupid. But i'll echo the rock, paper, scissors ad was my favorite.

I think I missed Kyle Boller being traded to the Bears, because I swear Kyle was playing QB in the Super Bowl last night (fumbled snaps, tripping over his own feet, horribly thrown interceptions). We miss you in Baltimore Kyle!

I thought the Coke ads were pretty good. Not sure why people didn't like them. The Chevy "hands" commercial was fantastic (though a little unsightly). Also, the Wade and Barkley commercial was tight. But the best ad was the fed ex commercial "can't judge by its name" - that was original and funny. Loved it.

I don't know why these corps are shelling out $2.6 mill for 30 seconds and then not raising their game with their ads any more. Last night was awful. Budweiser ads are always funny, though I wouldn't say they had a major standout ad this time around. They were consistent. I hated the Snickers ads. Careerbuilder's ads made me think of my last job a little too keenly, but that might say more about pyshcological scarring I suffered than the effectiveness of the ad. The Chevy commercial by the college student who won the contest was idiotic, but having seen the concepts for the other finalists, I guess they picked it because the others made too much sense and worked to well. Ah well.

I enjoyed the halftime mainly because I'll ALWAYS enjoy Prince more than the Stones or McCartney. I guess everyone's recovered from the Janet incident enough to have someone under the age of 65-70 do the show. And the do rag to protect his perm from the rain was a nice touch. ;)

As for the game itself, congrats to the Colts. It was sloppy in a way that made it feel interesting for long segments, and that's all you can really ask for.

And those were the first two of the night! It seemed like it was going to be a great ad war... and then, of course, the huge dropoff.

I liked the FedEx-in-space one, but as soon as the guy got smacked by the comet, it reminded me of the spot a few years ago where the caveman got out-of-nowhwere stomped by the dinosaur, so that killed it. I'd give #3 to... uh... the "things you can do with one finger" ad. That was decent.

I hated the rock-paper-scissors ad. I wanted that mf'er to get hit with a broken beer bottle (glass slashes rock's jugular).

Thought the Coke ad was cool....especially since I wasn't sure what it was building to as the game simulation kept on. Of course, last week I mentioned I usually hate Pepsi ads, so I coulda been biased.

I feel for anyone stuck in a one-bathroom party. Big D, you gotta have a private "stash" of a bathroom for yourself!

One thing hockey has going for itself is that they don't forge a new Stanley Cup every year....whereas they make new versions of the silver phallus each year that the players stroke during the pre-game show and discuss what it would mean to them.

Thought Phil Simms had a bad game....like he refused to see the other side to any scenario....starting with the weather.

Liked Prince....hey, whatever happened to when networks would counter-program the halftime show? Like WWE, or MTV, etc. Actually, here's a better question...is CBS required in its contract with the NFL to show all the pre-game hooey, like Stevie Nicks, or Cirque de Soleil, etc.....

The Ted Ginn - Devin Hester parallel at the start of the game was a bit freaky....especially since we'd made the point last week about Adam V. kicking off to Desmond Howard back in '97.

And lastly, note to self....deep-fried hush puppies without leavening in the batter taste like mexican-seasoned rocks. blech.

Prince was alright last night - the man/person can play the guitar there is no denying that. The fireworks show was impressive especially in the downpour.

However, the U2 super bowl halftime show during the Pats/Rams game was absolutely the best halftime show of all time. For the mere symbolism, and the fact that "Beautiful Day" is a song that people will forever associate with that performance.

Second of all, it is more clear to me now that it will ever be that those people who don't like Peyton Manning will never think he is any good, no matter what he does. The guy won the Super Bowl LAST NIGHT, and people are still taking shots at him on here this morning and saying ridiculous things like "he just isn't that good of a leader." You don't have to like him as a person. It's fine if you don't, but gimme a break at least until next season.

Third, how incredible was the Bears draw in the playoffs? They lucked out against Seattle in a game they should have lost in OT if the Seahawks offense hadn't gone Junior High. Then they get the Saints in the snow, and the Colts in a monsoon. More ought to be made of this and how well the Colts played in that weather. I think if people had known it was going to rain that way, there would have been a lot more people picking the Bears.

Lastly, I know this will be unpopular today, but I'm not blaming Rex Grossman. Everyone knew coming in that their success would hinge on not asking him to do too much. It wasn't Rex Grossman who was getting tackled on third down all throughout the first half. The Bears were committed to the run and the Colts were committed to stopping it. Furthermore, it wasn't Grossman who couldn't get the Colts Offense off the field on the 3rd down, it was Chicago's vaunted defense. To blame Grossman is ridiculous. It was a team loss for the Bears just as much as it was a team win for the Colts. Grossman's picks came at the end of the game when he was forced by Chicago's ineptitude in every other offensive facet to try to make something happen.

(I hope this wasn't mentioned in yesterday's ongoing blog, since I didn't read that yet).

So while the game itself might have lacked a lot of drama, for anyone who bet on the game, the last few minutes must have been surreal. With Indy up 12, if they had kicked the field goal at the end, they would've gone up 15, virtually eliminating any possibility that the Bears could cover. Of course, they don't, leaving open the possibility that the Bears could score a garbage time TD and beat the spread. But then, the Bears proceed to pass the ball over the middle, and even run it, as if they had no intention of even trying at that point. Totally anticlimactic from a fan's perspective, not so for anyone who had money on the game.

My quote about Peyton not being a great leader was used, so let me explain a little.

I think Peyton Manning is a great QB and will go down as one of the top handful in history, just like A-rod will go down as one of the great players in MLB history. But I dont see Peyton as a leader that teammates will go through hell for.

When NE was driving for the potential tying score, Peyton wasnt on the sidelines exhorting his defense on, but he was seated on the bench with his head down. After the Bears ran back the opening kickoff, he had his head down. In tough situations a good leader is out there keeping everyone else's head up, not putting his down. That's where we get the Peyton Manning face. After something bad, he looks down instead of saying 'fuck that, we'll get them next time.'

I guess you are right in saying I am criticizing him in his big moment, but just being honest as to how I feel about him. Great QB, earned his Super Bowl, but just not a great leader.

Gamblers lost? Are you kidding me? That was a marvelous cover for the Under (47.5, 46 points score), with the colts threatening to score again in the 4th and instead turning it over on downs, followed by the bears eating up clock without getting the long distance strike.

I thought the Coke Grand Theft Auto ad was the best, but it wasn't new, apparently.

I can't believe all the commercials that were reruns.

The Daytona 500 will probably have more new ads. The corporate sponsors really come through because they have a big interest in linking their brand to the actual race.

Did anyeone see the crazy rioting that ended the Italian league season? I think they were replaying the match on FSC, but I couldn't get my host to stay on it (they had to call the game because of ... tear gas?).

I don't think anyone doubts that the NHL has the best trophy hands down, any sport, anywhere. It's an actual royal-bequeathed prize, they engrave names on it, the winning players get time with the Cup AND the name rings are retired to the Hall of Fame. Plus, you can drink from it.

I'm still waiting for the "myNHL" ad that uses "myCup" as a tagline...

Do you think Peyton's teammates even like him? It sure doesn't seem like it. And he didn't win the superbowl, that offensive line did. If there was ever a need for a group MVP, it was for them. Not only did they only give up one sack, but look at the rushing yards. Unbelievable.

Commercials stunk this year. Rock Paper Scissors was the best, and then a huge drop off. Even GoDaddy.com's commercial was weak. Why did they have to present that to censors 18 different times?

And where was the "after superbowl" television? Didn't Grey's Anatomy have a huge episode last year. CBS followed with what? Criminal minds i think. A show i've never even heard of.

The GTA ad for coke is almost 6 months old. Or at least, I've been seeing it on the movie theatre previews since the summer.

In driving rain, with ridiculous winds...I give huge props to all the halftime performers for doing a pretty good job. Prince gutted it out in the rain! Today's prima donnas would have refused to go on stage.

Still...let's have the chili peppers next year.

There are different kinds of leaders on a football team. Manning is the offensive leader. And yes, I think his offense would do anything for him. He's not the overall leader (the "heart and soul"), that's Tony Dungy for the Colts.

I agree. Can you imagine how a defensive player feels when the quarterback is trying to "inspire" them? If I played defense, I would be thinking just shut up and do your job, and leave me alone to do mine. It just seems so fake when a quarterback (or any offensive player really) does anything more than cheerlead for the defense.

By the way, the refs were pretty good last night I thought. I mean, way better than last year, and pretty much a non-story most of the way, which I think deserves to be mentioned, given how controversial it was last year.

My favorite commercial was from the first commercial segment -- and it still hasn't been mentioned anywhere else.

Chad Johnson's Super Bowl Party.

Jimmy Fallon, CJ meet-n-greet with Rascal Flatts.... Then that dude talking with David Beckham:"So... You play professional football for L.A.""Yep""Well I don't think that will work here, but I like the angle."

@ brian: I also bet he makes a point of playing Peyton & LdT for two or three full quarters, as payback for A) Beating him, or B) calling him out as unclassy.

@ luke: "It just seems so fake when a quarterback (or any offensive player really) does anything more than cheerlead for the defense"

Disagree a little. I think that a few QBs (Brady, Manning, Palmer maybe) have earned the right to try and give advice to their defense on things that they can observe from the sidelines. But yeah, for the most part, players play and cheer, coaches help make the adjustments.

I don't understand the love for Prince... it was a general consensus with all my friends that it was the worst half time show ever. We are in our early 20's though, so maybe it is a generational thing?

I'm in my ..well..shit..mid 20s (25) and I do think Prince is a hell of a musician. There isn't a concert in the world that would look or sound very good on television. In person, it was probably a heck of a lot better.I was just impressed that the show was pretty good despite the weather.

The one call that was wrong was the penalty thrown on Hasselbeck for the illegal block. I don't believe in the "you just don't call a penalty in that situation" nonsense that some espoused on the PI call.

The Bears D gets the blame: their tackling was ATROCIOUS! Also, they never adjusted. Addai killed them as a receiver all game long and they kept playing the same D. Flashbacks of last year's game against Carolina. Is Ron Rivera really that high on the list as a head coaching candidate?

Does anyone remember Michael Jackson's halftime show? He may have fallen WAY off the planet, but everyone in the crowd had little boards that they held up and the entire stadium was filled with giant pictures of people's faces of differing races. It was spectacular!

Sports fans are color blind? I'm really not so sure about that. No, I'm not saying ALL fans. But I'm certainly not agreeing with your point. And I don't think it's crazy to make a big deal over the fact that he is the first African-American coach to win the Super Bowl.

Dan, i'm going to disagree with you. If the media hadn't made a big deal about it, i wouldn't have thought twice. For some reason, it seems, that the media enjoys playing the race card. These two coaches, were coaches.

It's the constant seperation of, you're the first to do this or that, as if they are any different then a caucasian coach, that perpetuates racism in america. It's like the media is saying, we never thought it would be possible.

I disagree with you as well Dan, while it is a big deal that Dungy is the first Black coach to win a Super Bowl, the way the media forced it down our throats really has made it such a non-story at this point.

I made a bet with my buddy that during the post game interview that the topic of racial significance would be the 3rd question asked to Dungy, and he took the 2nd. We both laughed that he was right, and that I gave Nantz too much credit.

It's not that it's not a story, it's just been overplayed so much in the media that we just don't care anymore. Not taking away from the accomplishment.

The Chris Rock line on Sportscenter about when equality would finally be reached was priceless.

I just want to say I called this one as well last week. I said the Colts would win and that they would cover the spread.

And like I said last night, Peyton Manning is one of the greatest QB's ever. Get off him people. He's done everything we could ask of him. As for the Manning face? He just demands a lot from his teammates. He expects them to make plays and when they don't he's a little upset. I'm sure every single one of you has your own "face" that you use when something similar happens. I know I do. Give the man his dues!

Are you suggesting that two black head coaches in the Super Bowl has nothing to do with getting more black head coaches in the college and pro ranks?

We're having two different discussions here: 1. The way the media portrayed the milestone and 2.The significance of the milestone.

Everyone agrees the media coverage was ridiculous (as it is with most things). However, when you have the Rooney rule, when Singleterry is considered a "token" interview, when college coaching still suffers from a dearth of black coaches, it is an issue.

The only way we got more black qb's was for the few black qb's to succeed and look at things now. They only way we are going to get more black head coaches in all ranks of the game is because of more things just like last night.

I should clarify, this will be a bigger deal for me IF it means that owners and universities take a lot more serious of looks at hiring Black coaches. I hope that it does (especially on the NCAA level).

Injustice is that many qualified black coaches have to beg and wait for just one chance. Then someone like David Spade gets show after show!

That shows how messed up our country is! Dan had a good point about not confusing the media's hyping with the actual legitimacy of the issue. Before this week, I just assumed that a black coach had won the Super Bowl before because lately there have been more hired. I'm glad Tony Dungy was the one because he seems like a nice guy and had to wait far too long to get his chance.

No one's giving any love to the "Hard to Say Goodbye" ad that the fan who won that contest designed. I thought the ad was pretty good. Does anyone know if they planned on having that last Favre bit in there the whole time or if they added it at the last minute after his announcement? NFL.com doesn't describe ever filming the Favre part when they filmed the rest of the commercial, and I can't find out anywhere if this was the fan's idea or NFL's idea. My gut tells me that the Favre ending is what helped win him the contest.

Dan, it's great to see you back in the comments sections responding to your readers. It makes the blog more like a conversation than a group therapy session where you suggest the topics and we argue over them all day. Keep up with the posts!

I think a major reason why a lot of people feel the whole "first black coach to win the Super Bowl" is a non-issue is because it really WAS a non-issue. It became a non-issue 2 weeks ago when Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy were set to become the first two black coaches in the Super Bowl. Once that happened, the question was just which one would have his name in the book next to "First black coach to win the Super Bowl."

The NFL network didn't choose the idea that was the most popular with the internet voting though, they took the 2nd place. But I agree it was a good commercial, and I don't think they told people about the Favre twist because it wouldn't make for good tv.

I agree with others here. Tony Dungy being the 1st black coach to win the Super Bowl is important for the historical significance of it. But the media played it up a bit too much in my opinion.

Maybe its because I'm white and only in my twenties, but to me Tony Dungy isn't a black coach, he's a coach. The moment has been noted and yes its significant, but I hope the media don't define Dungy by this for the rest of his coaching career. Recogonize him as a great coach, not a great black coach. If the announcers comment about this during every Colts game next year, that's pushing the race thing. You know we've made it when we can stop pointing out the obvious that someone is black, or asian, or whatever.

Adding Favre to the NFL.com "Hard to say goodbye" ad was a nice touch, and I should have mentioned that the ad was okay in my earlier comment on the overwhelming banality and reprehensibility of the other Superbowl commercials.

But the editors for the NFL.com spot blew the captioning. The setup line, "Some find it hard to say goodbye," should have run. Then the snippet of Favre should have shown. Then the tag, "Some more than others," should've have run.

Would've have made the commercial 200 percent better. It's all about timing.

Allow me to make the distinction: QBs watching and getting excited/cheering on the defense is fine. A QB trying to "pump up" the defense is moronic. Maybe that's just a minor difference in my little head. :)

I'd watch Nascar if they had road races where the roads weren't closed off to regular drivers. It'd be awesome to see Nascar drivers have to outrace NYC cab drivers, compensate for LA road rage, or drive in Boston without getting hopelessly lost. You think Jeff Gordon could contemplate a rotary? I don't.

Prince = Best Halftime Show Ever?!? Did you already forget about a little group called U2 playing in New Orleans after 9-11? Nothing can ever be compared to that performance. It was like a wake for the country's mourning.

1. You can effect another competitor with your play (AKA defense)2. Requires athletic movement3. There is a score

Golf: not a sport. you can't effect anybody else. therefore it falls into a second category called "competition" (AKA who can do something best independent of eachother)

Hearts: it's a card game. no athletic movement but you can effect the other people and there's a score. without the athletic component it becomes a "game" (AKA soething you do in your spare time at a table)

Nascar: it has no score, but a time. that makes it a "race" (AKA who can do something the fastest) not a sport. believe it or not that is a distinction.

Look, racing is one of the oldest sports, it's in every country on the planet, it's a lot more common than baseball, football and hockey.

Do we really want to discuss effort in this context?

Nascar drivers have to clutch, steer and work pedals for hours at a time, with their life on the line. Split second reflexes combined with real mortal danger combined with stamina. Is David Wells really more of an athlete? Vinateiri? Any golfer? Any closer in baseball? Any DH on steroids?

I like and play Golf, but you can never consider it a sport. When the top of your leaderboard could possibly be Michelle Wie, John Daly and let's say Fred Couples, you cannot call it a sport. A 16 year-old girl, a fat chainsmoker and a middle-aged guy with a bad back are not athletes.

All right, I'm not a big NASCAR fan but I gotta defend it here a little. DO you guys have any idea how difficult it is to drive those cars? First of all, it's well over 120 degrees in those cars and theya re in them for over 4 hours. Secondly, think about this. THey are going 150-200 mph and doing turns in the process. That is a lot of G-forces going agasint them. Lastly, do you understand how difficult it is to turn a car going 200 mph?? Yes, the track is banked but that still doesn't turn the car on itself. I have the utmost respect for NASCAR drivers as athletes. It takes INCREDIBLE stamina. I can barely make 4 hours in a car without stopping to take a damn piss...

Let's seperate two things.Sports and athletes.They aren't related. Not at all. Air Force fighter pilots are athletes but what they do is not a sport.

The score requirement is during the game. Not a "chase". That does not count. You don't get a point for passing someone in NASCAR. Their are world chess rankings that involve points. That's not a score.

Todd, I'm not sure but I think they have a bag in there that they pee into.

Guy: No, there isn't a difference between athletes and sports. In track you don't get any points for passing someone but we still consider sprinters and marathon runners athletes and we consider track a sport. YOur argument is flawed, majorly.

According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary Online, the definitions are as follows.

athlete--Function: nounEtymology: Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlEtEs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

sport--Function: noun1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in2 a : PLEASANTRY, JEST b : often mean-spirited jesting : MOCKERY, DERISION3 a : something tossed or driven about in or as if in play b : LAUGHINGSTOCK4 a : SPORTSMAN b : a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship c : a companionable person5 : an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue

So by definition, an athlete is trained in sports. The fact that sport is used in the definition of athlete and athlete is used in the definition of sport completely negates your argument. NASCAR drivers are athletes therefore NASCAR is a sport, by definition.

I don't have nearly enough interest in NASCAR for this to devolve into a NASCAR-driven blog about whether they are athletes or not. Obviously, I love when Comments go the way you want them to (with exceptions, of course), but if you're never going to change your mind -- and the other guy is never going to change his mind -- you have to ask if it's worth it, after everyone has made their -- say -- 1st, 2nd and 3rd rounds of points. This is not a rebuke of the guys who are in this NASCAR debate, but simply my take on it. For the record, I respect NASCAR and what it has built from virtually nothing into the No. 1 niche sport -- even ahead of the NBA, which as you know I consider a niche sport.

I hope you all realize that I was just trying to be [absolutely shamelessly] funny in trying to say why I don't think Nascar is a sport. I have no doubt in my mind that what those people do is something I could never do, and so I respect them for that.

Sadly, for us non-Nascar fans, there's no way to deny it's immense popularity, and with ESPN constantly covering Nascar, it's hard to make the argument these days that it's not a sport.

To wrap this up nicely, I think most Nascar drivers are probably better athletes than Rex Grossman, who should be next year's spokesperson for the "Life Comes at You Fast" ad campaign...

And also, it'll be a great accomplishment when there's a Black Nascar driver who wins at Daytona or wins the chase.

I have no problem with Tony Dungy mentioning his faith in his postgame comments. When he says that he coaches "The Lord's way", he means it. He doesn't cuss, doesn't scream, doesn't play mind games with his players, and carries out his job in a way that is consistent with his Christian faith. If Tony Dungy gives glory to God for his coaching methods working, he is only giving credit to the Author of the principles he coaches by. More power to him.

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DanShanoff.com is a sports-blog spin-off of my long-time ESPN.com column, "The Daily Quickie." Anchored by an early-morning post of must-know topics, the blog is updated frequently throughout the day with new posts and user comments.